To edit is divine

As a writer, it is extremely flattering to be considered for a position as an editor. I believe that the only way we will change the perception of Africa and Africans is if we control the means of communication.

What activity best prepared you for your new role?

I have worked in management consulting, IT, fashion, events, television and publishing. I’m a published and performing poet. This stems from a desire to explore and understand everything that life has to offer and it is this (desire) that best prepared me for the position.

Magazines aimed at the same market seem to have struggled. Why will BLAQUE be different?

There have been very few magazines aimed at the market, men of colour. The challenges (those magazines) have faced are not necessarily because the market is not interested in such a magazine.

I believe the main challenges have been operational and fi nancial. BLAQUE is an engagement platform.

It fits within an overall strategy that is still in its infancy. Ours is not to dictate but rather to reflect the interests, hopes and dreams of the market.

We are doing this through:

Ã¢Â€Â¢ User-generated content;

Ã¢Â€Â¢ An interactive website; and

Ã¢Â€Â¢ The Blueprints process – As part of deciphering the Ã¢Â€Â˜BLAQUE Magazine Formula for Success’, we (BLAQUE Lifestyle (Pty) Ltd) have introduced an organisation called Blueprints. In the process, we will discover the magazine’s core DNA. What makes BLAQUE Magazine truly distinct in our market will be determined by our readers and other stakeholders, and will be scored by them, on a regular basis.

What are your plans for the title?

The intention is to create a magazine that is relevant, entertaining and inspiring, but the focus right now is on creating stability while also penetrating more of the market. I would like to see a magazine from Africa that is able to spread across and beyond the continent in the same way we have titles here that are extensions of European ones.

What is the worst advice you have ever come across?

Aim within your limits.

What motivates you?

A passion, a love for the Word, in all forms. A belief that each one of us can make a difference. Family. My son. Launched on 31 March this year, BLAQUE is aimed at upwardly mobile black men aged, aged 24-40 years. R!_LT_STRONG !_LT_/STRONG

!_LT_STRONGSamantha Page !_LT_/STRONG

!_LT_STRONGEditor, O, The Oprah Magazine (South Africa)!_LT_/STRONG

Why did you accept the editor’s position?

It wasn’t a difficult decision because I am so passionate about the brand. I followed my passion, and what comes so naturally to me, and the universe responded with a dream bigger than one I could have dreamt for myself.

What activity best prepared you for this role?

I would have to say five-and-a-half years as a sub-editor. It’s the best preparation for all the other editorial positions on a magazine. As a result, I have a meticulous eye for detail, a comprehensive command of the English language and have intimate knowledge of the inner workings of a magazine (i.e. production and design).

What sets O apart ?

O, The Oprah Magazine is so much more than just a magazine. I have always thought about it as a life manual, a navigational tool, essential to a life journey. O’s content helps women restore confidence in themselves and allows them to find their truth and act on it.

We never tell our readers how to improve themselves, but rather how to accept that who they are is enough. Our job is to teach women how to become more of who they already are. There are no quick fixes and you cannot fast-track this journey. You have to dig deep and do the work, but you’ll be glad you did because essentially this is the process involved in living your best life.

What are your plans for the title?

Content is king! Above all else it’s the content that will sell this magazine, so it’s imperative that the content always speaks directly to O’s core values: authenticity, relationships, meaning. We will continue to grow our writer base – inviting authors and writers from other media to contribute – in an attempt to ensure that our articles are more journalistic in nature. Readers need not be afraid the magazine will be overhauled.

We are going to consolidate our position in the market and work on increasing circulation and readership.

What’s the worst advice you have ever come across?

If pressed I would have to say the time someone told me my standards were too high and I actually considered being less of myself. I will never make that mistake again.

What motivates you?

New challenges. I love tackling difficult projects that require I flex different muscles, learn something new and discover new arcs to myself. I also never take anything for granted and practise gratitude daily – I believe that’s why my life is so blessed and so full. Looking back at how much I have achieved (personally and professionally) spurs me on to continue on that trajectory.

Associated Magazines is the only publisher outside the US of O, The Oprah Magazine. The local edition’s total circulation is at 70,876 (ABC, January – March 2008), with total paid circulation 69,599.

R

!_LT_STRONGDan Nicholl!_LT_/STRONG

!_LT_STRONGEditor-in-chief, Golf Punk (South Africa)R !_LT_/STRONG

Why did you accept the position as editor-in-chief?

I had come across Golf Punk in the UK a few years earlier, and thought it was brilliant – and perfect for South Africa. Setting up the South African issue was a dream assignment. The opportunity to travel the world playing golf and staying at top resorts didn’t hurt either.

What activity best prepared you for this position?

I’ve spent a number of years in the golf industry as a writer and an MC, so having a strong existing golf network was hugely beneficial. Working with Compleat Golfer was a great experience, and my work with iafrica.com, Cape Talk and e.tv has given me a broad understanding of the South African media.

The local golf magazine market seems to be quite crowded. What sets Golf Punk apart?

There are a lot of publications. But the spectrum of golf’s appeal means that different magazines tap into different markets – and while those markets may be niche, they’re niches that are expanding appreciably.

We’re not a conventional golf publication – we’re constantly looking for new angles and new approaches: putting practice in the shark tank at the aquarium, challenging Kaizer Chiefs to a game, giving Roxy Louw her first lesson, playing shots out of the crocodile pit at Lost City.

Throw in the fashion, the interviews with top players, the glamorous Bunker Babes giving rules advice, and the exclusive content we get from our sister publication in the UK, and you have a magazine that I honestly feel has brought something completely new to the local golf magazine market.

What are your plans for the title?

There’s a lot of growth and development ahead of us. We’re already partnered up with the Audi Quattro Cup, and Vodacom Origins of Golf, and developing similar partnerships is crucial. Extending the brand to other media is something we’re working on; but key for me is directing the creative focus of the magazine, ensuring that we keep it young, exciting, energetic, and reflective of the new-look South African golf market.

What is the worst advice you have ever come across?

Every piece of golf advice I’ve ever received, as none of it has worked. And when working on a television project just after university, being told to stay calm, not rush things, and wait and see what happened. There’s a hell of a lot of opportunity in South Africa, which is why I’m so passionate about the country, but it’s up to you to charge out, grab it, and run with it.

What motivates you?

A lot of people have done a lot for me; not making the most of the opportunities available would be letting them – and myself – down. I wake up every day working on a great golf magazine, appearing on television and radio, travelling extensively, and living in the most beautiful country on the planet. How could that not motivate you?

!_LT_EMGolfPunk !_LT_/EM(South Africa) was launched this year by GreensideGolf Publishing.

!_LT_UL
!_LT_LIThis Q&A first appeared in The Media magazine (September 2008).R!_LT_/LI!_LT_/UL

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